Panther Welcome

All students are invited to join the POUNCE Rewards Program for the fall semester of 2023. For more details about the program, click here.

Click here for a checklist of things to do to start the semester off right!

Volunteers will staff Ask Me booths to help students navigate Georgia State University. Monday - Thursday booth hours are 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. the first week of classes. Only the Atlanta campus will host a Friday booth (9 a.m. - 3 p.m. unless otherwise noted).

The Ask Me booth locations will be as follows:

• Atlanta –
  • 25 Park Place first-floor lobby (except Wed.)
  • Courtland St. & Gilmer Ave.
  • Library North entrance with extended hours until 7 p.m. Mon. & Tues.
  • Student Center West 3rd floor Information Kiosk (near the Bookstore entrance)
  • Urban Life entrance off Decatur Street OR just inside the Urban Life lobby (except Tues. and Fri.)
• Alpharetta – AA Building lobby
• Clarkston – CN Building lobby, near café seating
• Decatur – SC Building lobby, near café seating
• Dunwoody – NB Building lobby, lower level
• Newton – 1N Building lobby, near open seating
• ONLINE?  Panther Answer is your one-stop shop to ask questions and set up appointments with admissions, academic advising, financial aid and the registrar’s office.

Thursday, Aug. 17, 1 - 4 p.m., Urban Life Plaza 

All new and returning international students and scholars are welcome to come and enjoy food and have fun.  Register to attend the Grill Out in PIN.

Friday, Aug. 18, 6 p.m., Center Parc Stadium

Join Spotlight Programs Board and Athletics at Center Parc Credit Union Stadium for a pep rally and to watch “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” from the field. Students can use their PIN event pass for free access upon arrival at the stadium. It can be downloaded to your phone from PIN.GSU.EDU/EventPass. A QR code on site will allow easy access to the EventPass if it’s not already saved in the student's digital wallet. Free student shuttles will depart The University Commons for Center Parc Stadium beginning at 5:30 p.m. and will run a continuous loop. Students driving to the event can park for free in the Green Lot. Gates open at 6 p.m., and all students and fans should enter at Gate 8 and sit in the north or east stands. The first 500 students get free pizza and drinks!

The Georgia State Band and spirit squads will be performing, and the football team will take the field at approximately 6:30 p.m. for a scrimmage. Once the practice is over (approximately 8 p.m.), students and fans can move down to the field to view the movie. Food trucks will be available for concessions. Please note the Clear Bag Policy at Center Parc Stadium.

Sunday, Aug. 20, 3 p.m., Convocation Center

First-Year Convocation is a formal event that welcomes new students from all campuses to Georgia State. Dr. Fortune E. Onwuzuruike, co-founder of Tech Is the Wave and Cybersecurity Program Manager at Microsoft, will deliver the keynote address to this year's incoming class. Fortune was a 2022 Georgia State Alumni 40 Under 40 honoree, and through his business, he helps to connect students with endless opportunities available within the technology industry. Upper-class students and the families of new students are invited to attend as well. Shuttles will be available to and from the Convocation Center with stops at Piedmont North, Piedmont Central and Patton Hall. Free parking is available across the street in the Blue Lot. The last shuttle will depart at 6:30 p.m.

Immediately following First-Year Convocation, ALL Georgia State students are welcome at the Atlanta campus for food, music, fun and socializing!  Catch a selfie with Pounce or pile your friends into a giant blue Georgia State armchair. Grab a snack. Dance to the music. Hang with old and new friends!

Join Panther Activities Council and Spotlight Programs Board for a free breakfast (while supplies last) on your way to class on one of the dates below as we welcome Panthers back to campus. Must have a current Panther ID.

• Alpharetta – Monday, Aug. 21, 11:30 – 1 p.m., AA Building Lobby AND Tuesday, Aug. 22, 9:30 – 11 a.m., AB Building Lobby
• Atlanta – Monday, Aug. 21, 9 - 10:30 a.m., Student Center East Lobby AND Tuesday, Aug. 22, 9 - 10:30, Student Center East Lobby
• Clarkston – Monday, Aug. 21, 9 – 11 a.m., CN Cafe AND Tuesday, Aug. 22, 9 – 11 a.m., CN Cafe
• Decatur – Monday, Aug. 21, 9:30 a.m., SF Lobby AND Tuesday, Aug. 22, 9:30 a.m., SC Student Center
• Dunwoody – Monday, Aug. 21, 9:30 a.m., NB 2000 Student Center AND Tuesday, Aug. 23, 9:30 a.m., NB 2000 Student Center 
• Newton – Monday, Aug. 21, 9 a.m., 1N Building AND Tuesday, Aug. 22, 9 a.m., 1N Building

Join Panther Activities Council at one of the events below. Must have a current Panther ID.

• Alpharetta – Scoops N' Smiles Meet & Greet, Thursday, Sept. 7, 12 – 1:30 p.m., AB Entrance Lobby
• Clarkston – Foamalicious Party, Thursday, Aug. 31, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., CN Student Center and Quad
• Decatur – Welcome Water Fun, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2 – 4:30 p.m., Greenspace
• Dunwoody – Ice Cream Social - is being rescheduled.
• Newton – Meet & Greet Ice Cream Social, Wednesday, Aug. 23, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., 1N Patio/Lobby

Aug. 21 - 25, Atlanta Student Recreation Center
Take advantage of Recreational Services "Try Me" Week and explore activities and classes you might be interested in!

Wednesday, Aug. 23, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., State Ballroom, Student Center East

Want to work on campus? Join University Career Services for the On-Campus Job Fair. Explore opportunities within Georgia State University departments and local employers seeking students for part-time employment to gain communication and leadership skills.

Wednesday, Aug. 23, 7 - 8:30 p.m., Rialto Center for the Arts

Join the Spotlight Programs Board to start your semester off with a smile! The show will start promptly at 7 p.m with doors opening at 6 p.m. This show is for Georgia State students only.

Thursday, Aug. 24, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Student Center, Atlanta
Stop in the various offices throughout the Student Center facilities to learn about the great resources, services and programs offered to students. Complete the road map to earn prizes!

• 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Fraternity & Sorority Life Expo, State Ballroom:
  All 28 chapters from the Interfraternity Council, Multicultural Greek Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council and the Panhellenic Council will be tabling to provide information about their chapter as well as recruitment and intake events. 
• 12 – 2 p.m. CCI FEST, SCE 2nd Floor:
  Join Cultures, Communities & Inclusion (CCI) as we welcome new and returning students to campus for Fall 2023! Learn about our programs, services and resources, while meeting students and staff of diverse cultures and communities! 

Monday, Aug. 28 – Sept. 8

Each Perimeter College campus will host a similar event to the Atlanta Pounce Around Hurt Park festivities!

Alpharetta - Wednesday, Aug. 30, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., AA Parking Lot/AA Patio
Clarkston - Thursday, Aug. 31, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., CN Student Center
Decatur - Tuesday, Aug. 29, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., SC 1^st floor
Dunwoody - Tuesday, Aug. 29, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., NB 2000 Student Center Back Patio
Newton - Thursday, Aug. 31, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., 1N/2N Lawn

Tuesday, Aug. 29, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Student Center East Ballroom & Collins Street

Join your fellow Panthers at this outdoor block party for ALL students. Due to the rain forecast, the food trucks will be on Collins Street (underneath the Courtland St. bridge between the Library and Student Center West. The interactive attractions, departmental resource displays, and music provided by DJs will be in the State Ballroom in Student Center East.

Wednesday, Aug. 30, 3 - 5 p.m., House & Senate Salons of the State Ballroom, Student Center East

New to campus or just looking to expand your social network? Join Leadership Programs for a fun afternoon of speed friending where you will have the chance to meet fellow students. Pop-in for 5 minutes or stay for the whole time!

Thursday, Aug. 31, 3 - 5 p.m., Veterans Memorial Hall, Dahlberg Hall

Join the Multicultural Center and International Student & Scholar Services to welcome Georgia State’s international students for the fall semester! This will be an opportunity for students of all cultures and communities to get to know one another and establish relationships that will build community at Georgia State! Come ready to play a few games, learn about GSU and much more!

Thursday, Aug. 31, 7 p.m. – Center Parc Credit Union Stadium

This is your first opportunity to cheer on the Panther Football team when they play against the University of Rhode Island. New students who register here have an exciting opportunity to run out of the tunnel with the football team before the game starts while rocking your exclusive #FanFromDay1 t-shirt! All students can use their PIN event pass for free access to the game upon arrival at the stadium. It can be downloaded to your phone from PIN.GSU.EDU/EventPass. A QR code on site will allow easy access to the EventPass if it’s not already saved in the student's digital wallet.

Multiple involvement fairs will be held to connect students with the resources offered by various student organizations across all campuses. Watch for listings in PIN with the kinds of organizations that will be featured at each event. 

• Alpharetta – Thursday, Sept. 14, AA Patio, Parking Lot, AB 105, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Atlanta – Thursday, Sept. 7, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Sports Arena, Atlanta campus
• Clarkston – Tuesday, Sept. 19, CN Café and Patio, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Decatur – Tuesday, Sept. 12, SC 1st floor, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Dunwoody – Thursday, Sept. 7, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., NB 2000 Student Center and sidewalk between B & C Buildings
• Newton – Wednesday, Sept. 13, 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., 1N/2N Lawn

Be sure to search PIN for Panther Welcome activities and other exciting opportunities for student engagement.